Bag fastener



June s, 1926. 1,587,524

W. C. HIERING BAG FASTENER Filed April 23 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEYPatented June 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES aren't FFEQE.

WILLIAM C. HIERING, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 5. E. MERGOTT00., OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A OGRPQRATION OF DELAWABE.

BAG FASTENER.

Application filed April 23, was. Serial No. 708,331.

This invention relates to improvements in fasteners as applied to theframes of valises, hand bags, pocket books and the like and has as oneof its objects to provide a simple, neat and effective fastener made ofa single piece of material stamped and shaped in an inexpensive manner.

Another purpose is to provide a fastener having self snap-locking meanswhereby the bag frame sides are held in positive fixed engagement untilmanually released.

A further aim is in the provision of a bag fastener applicable to a widerange of frames without mutilation or disfigurement and in which thebody of the fastener is not weakened by use or damaged by theexpenditure of unnecessary energy in operation.

These several aims and objects are accomplished by the novel andpractical construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter describedand shown in the accompanying drawing forming a material part of thisdisclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear side view of aconventional type of bag frame, showing the application of theinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the same, thesection being taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the fastener in detail.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational View of the same.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank prior to bending into its completedshape.

Referring more minutely to the drawing, the bag frame sides aredesignated by the numerals 10 and 11, respectively rear and front, theformer having a forwardly extending lip 12 overhanging the edge of thefront side, this lip being formed by closely doubling the material ofthe side frame, both of which are of U-shaped construction and, as willbe understood, are hingedly engaged at their parallel, end extremities.

The front frame side 11 is pierced through its upper edge, as at 13, toproduce a pair of upstanding prongs lt equally spaced from the center,and the rear frame side 10 is provided in its upper edge with a pair ofelongated openings 15.

The fastener is formed from a single blank, shown in Figure 6, topresent a graceful arcuately curved top plate 16, and oblong rectanglein profile, having end walls 1'? and a rear wall 18 level therewithadapted to seat closely upon the outer surface of the rear side frame10.

A re-entrantly curved element 19 connects the front edge of the plate 16integrally with the catch plate 20, the same rearwardly and slightlybelow the level of the end and rear walls to engage the prongs 14: ofthe front frame side when the device is in operative position, as bestshown in Figure 2.

Extending down from the lower edge of the rear wall 18 are a pair ofspaced elements 21, turned re-entrantly upward as at 22 their upper endsbeing connected by an integral bar These elements present a pair offlattened loops 24: adapted to pass freely through the openings 15 andreceive within them the correspondingly flattened portion 25 of atorsion spring 26, the offset head 27 of which abuts against one of thewalls of the rear side frame 10.

The action of this spring is to press the fastener body tightlydownward, holding the plate 20 in engagement with the detent prongs 14,the spring flexing when a raising pressure is applied to the forwardlyproject ing portion of the fastener, as in opening the bag, and alsowhen the sides are snapped shut or pressed together, it being understoodthat the width of the openings 15 is sufliciently in excess of thecombined thicknesses of the elements 21 and 22 to permit the fastener tobe readily raised in releasing the frame sides.

It is to be noted that the elements 22 are disposed on the outer surfaceof the wall 18 and that no tendency for disruption occurs when thefastener is raised in releasing the sides; this is contradistinction tosuch structures as have their corresponding elements arranged interiorlyof the fastener body.

The bar 23 is preferably bowed slightly outward or away from the rearwall 18 in order to provide eflicient drainage of the chemicals used incoloring or plating the fasteners, but the elements 22 may be secured tothe wall by soldering or brazing, thus further re-enforcing thestructure.

Experience has determined the utility of the structure and demonstratedits advantages over those in common use, while its simplicity andeconomy in manufacture are believed obvious.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,proportion and shape may be made well within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and seekvtosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bag fastener comprising a convex oblong rectangular plate havingflanged rear and end ed 'es and an inclined catch element at its frontedge, a pair of flattened loops depending from the rear -flange, theouter members of said loops being fixed on the exterior of said rearflange at the center thereof, said loops passing freely through openingsin one of the bag frame side members, a bar integrally connecting theouter elements of said loops, means internal of said frame member,engaging said loops whereby said catch element is normally drawn intooperative contact with the mating bag frame member and a forwardlyprojecting lip on the first named frame overlying the edge of the otherframe.

2. In combination with a pair of hingedly engaged, channelled franiies,of a fastener hingedly mounted lengthwise on one of said frames, twoflattened loops extending in spaced relation inwardly through the lastnamed frame, the outer elements of said loops being secured to the rearof :said fas tener at its center, an outwardly curved bar extendingbetween the ends of said loop elements, said bar acting as are-enforcement and limiting the movement of the fastener, a torsionalspring carried in said frame element engaged in both of said loops,upstanding prongs on the other of said frame elements, means formed onsaid fastener adapted to engage said prongs when the frame elements areclosed, and a projection integral with the first named frame to contactwith said prongs.

3. A bag fastener comprising a convex 0blong rectangular plate havingflanged rear :and end edges and an inclined catch element at its frontedge, a pair of flattened loops depending in spaced relation from therear flange. at the center, the outer rc-eutrantly turned members ofsaid loops being .ed on. the exterior of said rear flange, constitutinga re-enforcement therefor, an out :a rdly curved bar integrallyconnecting the loops acting as a stop limiting the rise of said fatener; said loops passing freely through appropriate openings in the bagframe, integral prongs on the mating; bag" frame member, means carriedin the bag frame adapted to engage said loops whereby said catch isnormally held in position to engage the prongs on the mating: bag framemember and a doubled forwardly projecting lip integral with the firstnamed bagframe member adapted to overlie the mating member .andre-enforce said prongs when the bag frame is closed.

This specification signed and witnessed this 22nd day of April, 1924:.

WILLIAM c. .HIERING.

